Shoe strap



May 1, 19.28u n 1,668,481

F.`A. BALLOU r-:T A1.

SHOE STRAP Filed May '7, 1927 A TT ORNEYS.

Patented May l, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

risuonare?. e. BALLOU, `or NAYATT, No noenas 'I'. STAFFORD, or nner PROVIDENCE, i anions ISLAND, assIGNoRs ro n. A. BALLOU a co., INC., or PROVIDENCE, RHODE" Istanze, .a oononsfrIoN or nH'onn ISLAND. n

SHOE STRAP.

This invention relates to an improved construction of shoe strap; and has for its object to provide a strap of this character having a portion arranged to extend over the instep of the wearer and a portion to extend forwardly `from the instep portion and one or more of the endsof these straps being adapted to be detachably connected to the shoe upper and in addition to being ornamental the strap serves to assist in retaining the shoe in position on the foot of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to con-struct this shoe strap in the form of the letter T, the cross strap portion being arranged to extend over the instep and the other portion arranged to extend forwardly, all three ends being preferably detachably connected to the shoe upper,

A still further object of the invention is the provision of clamping members on each of these ends whereby the whole strap may be detachably connected as a unit to the edges of the shoe of the wearer if desired.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully de-y scribed, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. i

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing our improved shoe strap in position.

Figure 2 show the strap straightened out or in extended. position.

` Figure 3 is an enlarged view partly in section showing the inner and outer links of the chain of which the lstrap is constructed as arranged to be extended endwise to render the device extendible and flexible so as to yield to the muscular action of the foot of the wearer.

Figure t is an kenlarged view illustrating an enlarged ornamental central member `and showing the chain links as connected to three sides thereof.

Fi ure 5 is a detailed view illustrating the c amp on one lof the strap ends as attached to the edge of the shoe upper.

Figure 6 shows the T-shaped arrangement of' the strap formed of extendible links.

It is found in practice of advantage to rovide a strap arranged to extend over the instep of the wearer and to provide attaching clamps by which the ends of this strap portion may be detachably connectedto the oppositejedges of the shoe; `also to provide aforwardly extending member on this strap having a clamping member on its end tobe attached to the forward portion ofthe shoe, which latter member in addition toservifng as an ornament also serves to retain the cross strap in the desired working position and prevent it from slipping on the foot of the wearer; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of our invention and showing one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished Nith reference to the drawings, 10 designates the instep strap which is herein shown as being constructed of a plurality of links 11 preferably comprising a plurality of outer box-shaped links 12 and inner slide links 13, the inner and outer members of each link being acted upon by a coiled spring 14: to press the two toward closed or contracted position.

The ends of this strap are provided with clamping members 15 each clamp having an outer jaw portion 16 and an inner or under jaw portion 17 which is pivotally connected to the outer jaw member andis normally pressed by spring action toward closed position as more fully described in our copendv ing patent application Se. No. 174,317 vlled March 10, 1927. In some cases the connected links of this cross strap may extend from end to end as illustrated in Figure 6, while in other cases an ornamental member 18 may be attached to the strap by any suitable means.

In order to retain'this cross strap in the desired position and to also provide further ornamentation for the strap, we have formed a forwardly extending strap portion 19 which is preferably also constructed of a plurality of chain links similar to those of which the cross strap is constructed, but which may be constructed in any other desired way, and the end portion of this for- 100 wardly extending strap portion is also pref erably provided with a clasp or clamping member 20 preferably similar to those on the end of the cross strap whereby the same may be attached to the edge portion 21 of x05 the shoe upper.

Our improved construction of shoe strap is very simple and practical and is effective claim.

We claim: Y A

A shoe strap comprising an elastic part of a length to extend over the instep of the wearer to substantially the opposite edges of the shoe upper and having attaching means at its ends to engage the margins of the shoe,

anda second part attached to the first partr intermediate its ends and extending therefrom forwardly to meet the forward edge of the foot opening7 means for securing said second part to the forward margin of the foot opening, said second part being elas tic to permit of a limited movement of the instep part of the strap to conform' to the muscular action of the foot in walking.

In testimony whereof we aHiX our signatures.

FREDERICK A. BALLOU. ROGERS T. STAFFORD. 

